Project Number: 1275-21000-263-24
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Aug 27, 2007
End Date: Jul 31, 2012

Objective:
The overall objective of this research is the creation of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) or SSR DNA markers in soybean and wheat, the development of genetic maps and the application of these markers to existing mapping populations and to newly developed populations that have been developed and extensively characterized by the University of Maryland. The specific objective of this research is the genetic mapping of the DNA markers for the discovery of quantitative trait loci (QTL)/genes that are useful for the genetic improvement of soybean and wheat.

Approach:
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers will be designed to soybean and wheat DNA sequence obtained from plasmid clones and from other existing sources of DNA sequence data such as GenBank at the National Center for Biotechnology Information. The PCR primers will be tested via the analysis of the resulting PCR products. Finally, the DNA sequence of PCR products will be determined from a small group of soybean or wheat genotypes and compared using PolyBayes SNP discovery software. In the case of soybean, the resulting sequence will also be compared with the newly developed whole genome sequence of Williams 82 soybean. SNP DNA marker discovery will be followed by the development of single base extension assays or Illumina GoldenGate assays that allow the detection of the SNP DNA markers. Alternatively, existing SSR markers for soybean and wheat will be made available. Both the SNP and SSR markers will be used to genotype the members of existing mapping populations or new populations that have been created by the University of Maryland and for which the University has developed extensive phenotypic information.